Wednesday, March 18th, 8:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Roberts Stadium (11,600) -- Evansville, Indiana. Television: None. Home Record: Belmont 11-2, Evansville 15-3. Away Record: Belmont 7-8, Evansville 2-9. Neutral Record: Belmont 1-2, Evansville 0-1. Conference Record: Belmont 14-6, Evansville 8-10. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: Evansville and Belmont will collide for the first-time ever this evening, when the Purple Aces host the Bruins in the first round of the inaugural CollegeInsider.com Tournament. This will be the fifth postseason appearance in the last six seasons for Belmont. The Bruins took part in the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, and last year Belmont nearly knocked off Duke at the Big Dance, but eventually fell to the powerhouse, 71-70. Belmont finished with 19 victories this season, and closed out Atlantic Sun play with a 14-6 ledger, but fell in the conference tournament to East Tennessee State. As for the Purple Aces, they finished with a mediocre 17-13 overall ledger, and struggled in Missouri Valley play, posting a mere 8-10 record. Evansville closed out its season with five losses in its last seven contests, including a setback to Illinois State in the first round of the MVC Tournament. This will be the first postseason event for Evansville since 1999, and in those previous tournaments the Purple Aces have posted a meager 2-7 ledger.

The Bruins possess the Player of the Year in the Atlantic Sun on their roster in Alex Renfroe. The guard has done everything for Belmont, leading the squad with 16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 156 assists. Renfroe has also collected 17 blocks and 66 steals. Matthew Dotson is contributing 12.3 ppg, while Andy Wicke is posting 11.8 ppg, to go along with 105 assists and a team-best 67 steals. Shane Dansby rounds out the double-figure scorers with 10.3 ppg and is also pulling down 4.5 caroms per contest. As a whole, the Bruins rumble into this game averaging 76.6 ppg, behind a solid 44.3 percent shooting effort. At the other end of the floor however, the Bruins have struggled to find consistency, allowing teams to shoot 44.4 percent, while also posting 70.6 ppg. Fortunately Belmont has forced over 500 turnovers on the season and has collected 249 steals.

The Purple Aces have not been nearly effective at the offensive end of the floor when compared to Belmont, as Evansville is netting just 66.8 ppg, despite shooting a solid 44.7 percent from the floor. Shy Ely has been the main source of production for this squad, as the forward is leading the team with 18.6 ppg, while also grabbing 5.8 rpg. Jason Holsinger is the only other player netting double figures, as the guard is netting 12.6 ppg, despite shooting a mere 38.8 percent from the floor. Nate Garner has controlled the glass grabbing 6.2 rpg, while Kaylon Williams has been a terrific floor general, dishing out 4.7 apg. Fortunately the team has played well defensively, limiting the opposition to just 64.9 ppg. Opponents are shooting 43.3 percent against Evansville, but the Purple Aces have held teams to a weak 33.4 percent showing from long range.

The Bruins have yet to win against a Missouri Valley squad, and while Belmont has played well this season, it will be tough for the team to win on the road against an Evansville squad that has played well at home.

Predicted Outcome

Evansville 72, Belmont 68